Aston Villa 1-2 Bournemouth Post Match Thread

[enigma]

Thought we did OK and more than matched them in the 2nd half so can be encouraged by that but we need to be switched on from the very first minute or those lapses will continue to cost us. We can't afford to drop cheap points like that at all.

[Chinchilla Bathhouse]

It is early days, we have to learn and do it quickly. We have enough talent in this squad and the younger players will start to get to grips with things. Positivity and support is what’s needed over the next few weeks.

Agreed.

There was a mountain of positivity before the game we just lost.

Not in your house there wasn't, barely a lump in there.

I predicted us to win by two clear goals. So there was plenty of positivity and expectation. When will I ever learn. 😂

Oh. I thought you said "Well I had Bournemouth down for a win. A draw at the very least."  A whole page ago, unless I've got the wrong person.

[hilts_coolerking]

Oh. I thought you said "Well I had Bournemouth down for a win. A draw at the very least."  A whole page ago, unless I've got the wrong person.

Not to put words in his mouth but didn't he mean 'Well I had [the Bournemouth game] down for a win'?

[PeterWithesShin]

I assumed he meant us to beat Bournemouth or at the very least get a point.

[Villa75]

Oh. I thought you said "Well I had Bournemouth down for a win. A draw at the very least."  A whole page ago, unless I've got the wrong person.

Not to put words in his mouth but didn't he mean 'Well I had [the Bournemouth game] down for a win'?

That's the correct context. I should have put Bournemouth game.

[AsTallAsLions]

Oh. I thought you said "Well I had Bournemouth down for a win. A draw at the very least."  A whole page ago, unless I've got the wrong person.

Not to put words in his mouth but didn't he mean 'Well I had [the Bournemouth game] down for a win'?

That's how I read it as well. Chill, Bathhouse.

[eamonn]

Be careful with this "shots on target" comfort blanket. I remember most of them only just reaching the goalkeeper . I'm not sure he had to make any great saves.

No but you can also have sitters without it being on target - ie Grealish's header when he should have scored. Trezeguet had a shot cleared off the line by someone other than their goalkeeper, surely as much of a shot ''on target'' than one that brings a save from the goalie.
We huffed and puffed, moreso in the last ten minutes, but we also created chances and opening fairly frequently for an hour or so. I think we have technical players in the middle and wings that are capable of making things happen at this level. It's up-front (and possibly defence) where the question mark is.

[Pete3206]

Bricked it early on, making mistakes, then created loads of chances, but no bite in the penalty area = the inevitable

[villadelph]

Be careful with this "shots on target" comfort blanket. I remember most of them only just reaching the goalkeeper . I'm not sure he had to make any great saves.

No but you can also have sitters without it being on target - ie Grealish's header when he should have scored. Trezeguet had a shot cleared off the line by someone other than their goalkeeper, surely as much of a shot ''on target'' than one that brings a save from the goalie.
We huffed and puffed, moreso in the last ten minutes, but we also created chances and opening fairly frequently for an hour or so. I think we have technical players in the middle and wings that are capable of making things happen at this level. It's up-front (and possibly defence) where the question mark is.

 

Totally agree. Taylor had a sitter cleared off the line too. Opted for the outside of his boot for whatever reason..

[levico]

Very disappointing.
Full backs didn’t look convincing.
Grealish not on his game
Luiz started badly but improved steadily - great goal.
Wesley the biggest worry for me. Hopefully he’ll come good but if there is any one reason why we may fail this year it’s because of the dearth of reliable strikers.

On the plus side, we didn’t give up battling and it was quite entertaining to watch.
A season being ‘plucky losers’?

[Chinchilla Bathhouse]

Oh. I thought you said "Well I had Bournemouth down for a win. A draw at the very least."  A whole page ago, unless I've got the wrong person.

Not to put words in his mouth but didn't he mean 'Well I had [the Bournemouth game] down for a win'?

That's how I read it as well. Chill, Bathhouse.

I'm perfectly chilled, thanks. I misunderstood his comment, that's all. Happy to be corrected.

[ChicagoLion]

I'd like to see us go with this side against Everton.  The full backs haven't done a lot wrong to be fair but I think we need to offer more going forward, but still have the insurance of defensive midfielders.  Grealish not stuck out on the wing but floating around, as he does.  I also appreciate that you are not supposed to pick the team on the coach on the way back from the game, but here goes;
                   Heaton
Guilbert  Engels   Mings   Targett
         Nakamba   Douglas
  Grealish   McGinn  Trezeguet
                 Wesley

The problem with width is what’s the point of crosses with no aerial threat up top? Grealish missed an easy header and without him you’ve got the likes of McGinn and Taylor in the box with very little chance of getting on the end of anything.

I like the look of Wesley in a lot of aspects but he doesn’t seem to be any threat in the air, movement not great, and that doesn’t half narrow down your options going forward.

We had 7 shots on target today and I feel, if Wesley isn't that useful, the goals have to come from elsewhere.  Targett and Guilbert are better, scoring wise that Taylor and Elmo.  All about opinions I suppose but the goals don't need to necessarily come from the centre forward alone.

FWIW, Benteke had 1 goal in his first 7 matches for us.. an established Premier League squad at the time. Let's see if Wesley can come good.

I think he'll be ok with a few more games under his belt. With all the ball and chances we made he didn't really have anything clean cut to run on or head.

I think it was more that he was not getting there or making runs that attract goal scoring oppportunities.

[QuintonVilla]

- Played ok but you can't start like that and expect to get anything in this league

- Full backs are a hindrance when we attack and they offer nothing going forward

- Grealish needs to get his act together and fast. Poor in both games so far

- Wesley. Zero goal threat and looks off the pace. He's going to struggle to get five goals never mind double figures. If the goals dry up from midfield we're in big trouble

- Having Davis to bring on as your only striking option is a worry. Neither him or Kodjia are anywhere near Premier League standard. Spent £130m but left ourselves massively short in the most important area of the pitch

- Everton is a massive game already to show we do belong here and to get some confidence amongst the players and fans

[CJ]

Lots of positives but gift any team a 2-0 start from individual cock-ups it's going to be a struggle in any league let alone the PL.

There's a lot of skill in the team and I think we'll be fine, even though Bournemouth at home is the sort of game we have to win in our mini/bottom 14 league.

I thought referees in the Championship were bad enough, but Martin Atkinson takes the biscuit for bottling giving Billing a second yellow card, even though he could/should have given him two in the space of as many minutes. Good game management by Howe for taking him off at half time.

High points of the afternoon - Doug's goal, and the complete absence of a Chinese flag on top of the Witton Lane stand

[BC Villain]

More of a wake up call than last week for me.  Bournemouth are an established Premier League club and are more streetwise than we are - especially all of the new boys.

Some encouraging signs again, but the reality is that Premier League is unforgiving and punishing when you drop a bollock.  Dean and the players need to learn this and QUICKLY.